Stratford grandmother Ann Houston has to get her own post after Royal Mail don’t deliver for two-and-a-half weeks
A GRANDMOTHER has told how medicines, vital information about her pension and a parking fine all arrived late, after Royal Mail failed to deliver them on time.
Ann Houston, who lives in Clopton Road, contacted the Herald to tell us she hadn’t had any post for two-and-a-half weeks.
Eventually, the 75-year-old went to her nearest delivery office on Maybrook Rd to ask what was going on.
There, she says she was handed a large folder bulging with undelivered post addressed to her, including medicines and birthday cards - one from her son in Australia.
She said: “I was told my post hadn’t been delivered, as the postmen had been given extra deliveries and what couldn’t be delivered on their shift was taken back to the office.
“I was advised not to complain, as it would fall on deaf ears.”
Mrs Houston saw the Herald’s recent story about Stratford residents whose post arrives in fortnightly or three-weekly batches - or often, not at all.
One woman we spoke to had missed several cancer treatment appointments, after the hospital letters had arrived too late.
Earlier this month, Mrs Houston posted a letter to her seven-year-old grandson Stephen, who lives in nearby John Street.
Stephen had written to her asking her to be his ‘prayer mate’ for his upcoming confirmation.
She explained: “He sent me this lovely letter and needed my reply to take into school as it’s all quite official, so I thought it would be more special if he received it through the post, instead of me just handing it to him.”
Unfortunately, it took a staggering two weeks for Ann’s letter to reach Stephen’s house, which is just 10-minutes’ walk away.
Communications watchdog Ofcom recently opened an investigation into privately owned Royal Mail’s failure to meet delivery performance targets.
Royal Mail managed to deliver only 74% of first class mail within one working day, far below the Ofcom target of 93%.
When we contacted Royal Mail just under two weeks ago, a spokesperson apologised for the delays, blaming ‘resourcing issues, including vacancies’ and said it was actively recruiting.
They also urged anyone experiencing repeat delays, or having concerns about the delivery of their mail, to contact Royal Mail customer service on 03457 740 740 or via www.royalmail.com.
Meanwhile, Mrs Houston said she became anxious after waiting weeks to receive a letter from the DVLA about a parking fine, after a mix-up over a parking permit.
And earlier this year, when all her friends received an official letter informing them of an increase in their state pension, she didn’t.
She said: “It’s very disappointing. One day something really important in the post will be lost.
“It’s a sad state of affairs - our postal service was the best in the world once, but not now.”
